Leak from Northwest Indiana oil refinery storage tank causes odor in south suburbs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A leak was to blame for the mysterious smell in the south suburbs.
On Wednesday, the Village of Tinley Park reported their 911 centers received calls for a natural gas odor outside. Suburbs east of Tinley Park were also getting reports.
A spokesperson for BP's refinery in Whiting said it experienced a leak from a storage tank in the fields last week. The leak was stopped and contained at the tank confinement area as of last Friday.
The refinery was operating normally this week, and no injuries were reported.
Still, some residents in Whiting said they'd experienced headaches because of the sulfur-like smell. Some residents who live right across the street from the refinery said the smell seeped into their homes.
"The closer you get to the refinery, you can, there's something. There's a difference," said resident Albert Zieba.
Whiting Mayor Steve Spebar described the odor as "a combination ... of sulfur and fuel."
Zieba said, "It's not going to knock your socks off, but you don't want to live in it."
A BP spokesperson said it's been using stationary and mobile air monitoring equipment and will continue to do so until contaminated soil and gravel in the containment area is removed.
"The leak has been repaired, but there would be a process of clean up of the material, which is still ongoing," said Spebar.
Still, Spebar said he received a few complaints this week. He added it was likely due to the wind patterns coming from the south causing the smell to be more potent this week.
Miles away in Tinley Park, officials there also received complaints about the smell of gas.
"I know it's an inconvenience, to say the least, but as I said, as far as we're aware and we've been informed, there's no health risk," Spebar said.
The company added it's taking other measures to reduce the odor.
